In the hadith literature
there is a category called musalsal (continuous). A musalsal hadith is
such that all its narrations over the centuries shared a common attribute.
Some of these ahadith include gestures. For example Anas, may Allah be
pleased with him, reported a hadith about the hand-shake of the Prophet,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam,, Allah's blessings and peace on him. "Prophet,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam's hand was softer than silk," he reported.
But the report was accompanied by an actual hand-shake, just like the original.
There are people living today who have received this hadith, along with
the hand-shake, through an unbroken chain that goes back to the Prophet,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. This is hadith musalsal bil masafaha (continuous
with hand shake).

It is a fascinating subject. There
is no other human being whose words and even gestures have been transmitted
through the centuries with such love, devotion, and care. There are so
many musalsalat that Shah Waliullah has compiled them in a book. Leading
the group of musalsalat is the hadith known as musalsal bil Awwaliat, (continuously
first). It is because for centuries, whenever a teacher of ahadith started
a new class anywhere in the Muslim world, he always began with this hadith.
The practice continues to date in many Islamic universities. It is always
the first hadith in a new hadith class.

We know that unlike the Qur'an, the
order in which ahadith are presented or read, is dependent only on the
choice of the compiler, teacher, or reader. There is no command that they
must be studied in a particular order. So the first hadith, became first
not because of an explicit injunction, but purely by the choice of those
involved in the study. Here is that hadith: "Abdullah bin Umro bin Aas,
may Allah be pleased with him, reports that the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi
wa sallam, said: Those who have mercy will receive the mercy of the Most
Merciful. Have mercy on those who are on earth, the One in heavens will
have mercy on you." (Tirmidhi ).

This is the message from the Prophet,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, who was declared by Allah to be "Mercy to
the entire world." It is just appropriate that his ummah chose that hadith
to be the first for its study. There is no other call for mercy that is
more universal or more inspiring. Have mercy on all the people. And do
it because you yourself need the mercy of Allah. Be merciful to the other
creations so the Creator will have mercy on you. Your mercy should see
no bounds. It should reach all human beings. Another hadith in Bukhari
and Muslim states: "Those who have no mercy on other human beings, will
not receive the mercy of Allah." It is important to note that in this second
hadith the word used is nas, that is people, not just believers.

And not just human beings. But also
animals. For "those on earth" include all living things. Once the Prophet,
Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, told the story of a person who had fed water
to a thirsty dog by climbing down a well and bringing water in his shoe,
and attained salvation for that act. When asked if there is any reward
for nice treatment to the animals, he answered that there is reward in
being kind to all vertebrates, a classification that practically only leaves
out insects.

Sometimes people say that Islam taught
kindness to animals 1400 years ago while the modern civilization has learnt
the lesson only now. Only the first part of this statement is true, since
the modern civilization has not yet learnt the lesson. Its penchant for
show biz has resulted in many displays of kindness to animals but they
only camouflage the unprecedented cruelty to them. Consider the practice
of vivisection, in which live animals are put through torture in the name
of medical research. Live and conscious animals are burnt or cut up or
tortured in all ways imaginable to see what will happen. The practice was
invented by this civilization. It continues today.

When it comes to human beings, the
modern civilization decidedly values them less than the animals. That is
why there are more people concerned about saving the whales and exotic
animals than have been concerned about the Muslims in Bosnia. That is why
seemingly educated people can painlessly present arguments that the dropping
of nuclear bombs on civilians was a good thing. That is why the starving
to death of nearly half a million people in Iraq, through economic sanctions,
does not raise any serious objections in the "civilized" world. Of course
the modern civilization's ruthlessness to other human beings, of different
color, or religion, exceeds its cruelty to animals. It kills, maims, tortures,
and starves to death, other human beings because they are "others."

Can this civilization even imagine
the outlook and mental make up of a nation that for centuries has begun
the study of the traditions of its Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam,
by recalling this message of universal mercy. Kindness, love, mercy. These
are among the most important defining words for the collective personality
of this ummah. Our ummah. We begin every act in the name of Allah who is
Most Beneficent and Merciful. We invite the entire world to the mercy of
their Creator. We show mercy to all the creation. And by doing all that
we seek mercy of Allah.

We also show our love for the Creator
by being kind to His creations. That is the foundation of real mercy. Our
mercy is not a public relationing ploy or a propaganda tool. It is not
driven by a love of headlines. Such motivations can only create a show
of mercy. But the real mercy requires sincerely and a more solid foundation.

In a way mercy is an attribute of
power. A helpless, powerless person cannot have mercy on others; he can
only ask for mercy. When Muslims had power, the world benefited from their
mercy. When they lost it, the world became full of ruthlessness and injustice.
That is the world we live in today. It is calling for the return of those
who can bring kindness and mercy back. Are we those people? Are we the
people who have been informed and inspired by the hadith musalsal bil Awwaliya?